Beauty

[just bee]

The ComPact is a commitment to simplify, pare down, streamline. It began as a way to gain some control over our collections of beauty products. Why were we amassing so much, yet not using what we were buying? Why were we always searching for the next new product? Why couldn't we just find what worked for us and stick with it?

The ComPact, however, is not restricted to beauty items. If you have a collection you want to address, do it here. Choose an area you want to work on, and track your progress on the ComPact thread. Members will offer tips and encouragement.

Choose one of our many mantras (“One by one until they’re done!” “We are SPAHHHRRRTAN!!!” “Not until you really have to.” “Buy less, choose well, make it last.” “Resist the propaganda.” "If it's high, I don't buy!" “When in doubt, do without!” “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.”  "Only the store, online no more!" “Shoplighters of the World Unite!”) or create a new one and share it. Target items each month to toss, donate, or use, and post your “chopping block” -- or “hit list.” Post temptations, post victories.

They say it takes 30 days for something to become a habit: Let's see if taking the ComPact one month at a time works for you.

Join us.

[just bee]

Hey, all you HEPcats and HEPdogs! We had discussed making the Healthy Eating thread a monthly jam session, so I just went ahead and did a little improvisation.

This is an invite to our crazy crib where you can come and break it down! I say we go 18 karat on this and really swing. If healthy eating’s not your bag, no problem. But if it is, I dig.

It’s cool, I’m booted, let’s jump!

[just bee]

Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day

Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - dancing in September
Ba de ya - golden dreams were shiny days...

[just bee]

We had discussed how much we appreciate our "alone time" in the morning.  I'm now on my second mug of Paris.

The infomercial for Time Life's soft rock collection was on so I was obligated to begin the day by dancing with the dog.

Then I checked any website that would be useful to me.  In other words, I checked to see if any staple items are on sale this week.  They aren't.

Now I have Valmont on.  I must admit I've never watched the entire film without leaving the room and forgetting to come back so this review may be unfair.  Last weekend I watched Dangerous Liaisons -- a film I've seen many times.  Valmont is no Dangerous Liaisons.

It seems that there are two camps: Those who prefer Valmont and those who prefer Dangerous Liaisons.  I'm definitely in the latter.

So I feel I'm ready for September.  Ready to say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn.

Anyone have a special project to tackle?  A plan for fun?  A strategy for healthy eating?  An approach to simplify the whole kit and caboodle?

Time for another mug...

[geezerette]

Well, somebody’s up bright, early and chipper this morning!  

[Harpa]

Clinking cups w/ you, @just bee ! I love Paris, too! But that's my afternoon tea. I drink matcha in the a.m.

Today's the day I'm taking things out of my closet that I do not love anymore. They've been lurking in there, hoping for a comeback.

Catching a bit of the glo-pro presentation last night, I was impressed that Jamie was not all gooked up with eye makeup. I thought she looked very pretty! Very youthful! I am already wearing less, but how refreshing to see a face that was not all masked over.

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

Well, somebody’s up bright, early and chipper this morning!  

---

@geezerette 

Or not.

I have an annoying habit of assigning significance to otherwise insignificant things, moments, events.

Or maybe it's a tendency to arrange life as a play or novel.  Beginning, middle and end.  The denouement.

I was thinking this morning about dividing my life into chapters.  Chapter 1: Ages 0-19.  Chapter 2: Ages 20-39.  Chapter 3: Ages 40-59.  Chapter 4: Ages 60-?.

I'm entering my final chapter next month.

Or maybe I'm just failing to see how Valmont could be considered superior to Dangerous Liaisons.  It's just not.

[just bee]

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@Harpa wrote:

Clinking cups w/ you, @just bee ! I love Paris, too! But that's my afternoon tea. I drink matcha in the a.m.

Today's the day I'm taking things out of my closet that I do not love anymore. They've been lurking in there, hoping for a comeback.

Catching a bit of the glo-pro presentation last night, I was impressed that Jamie was not all gooked up with eye makeup. I thought she looked very pretty! Very youthful! I am already wearing less, but how refreshing to see a face that was not all masked over.

---

@Harpa 

Every time I consider abandoning Harney & Sons for grocery store tea, I remember Paris.  Not ready to give it up quite yet.

Ah-ha!  So it sounds like you have a plan to SIMPLIFY your wardrobe.  I have to say that I wish I'd done that a lot sooner than I did.  I was making progress and donated quite a bit, but there was still so much that was completely unwearable and no good reason to keep it.

Try on everything.  If it's not comfortable bid it a fond adieu.  Do you have a strategy?  I'm still paring down and intend to eliminate short sleeves, unnecessary patterns, complicated fabrics and unflattering colors. 

And SIMPLIFYING makeup is another area.  I'm down to the basics for skincare and cosmetics and it feels great.  A real timesaver.

[just bee]

@Harpa 

Another area for SIMPLIFICATION:

Tea.

Right now I have H&S Paris, Victorian London Fog, Bangkok and African Autumn.  Also have a box of Stash Lemon & Ginger and a box of Bigelow Constant Comment.  Then there's a Ziploc bag of assorted flavors: Leftover Bigelow teas from the hotel and H&S samples from my last order.

I'm trying to keep the collection SIMPLE.  Have you narrowed down your favorites?

[just bee]

This film is terrible.  Now I know why I left the room and forgot to come back.